23 Things for Online Teaching

In general…

1.     Commit to becoming a lifelong learner. As technology and other things evolve… You must evolve, too.

2.     Consider setting up an email address that you will use specific for tools, articles, and other things directly related to online teaching. This will keep you organized and will serve as a bank of resources for online teaching.

3.     Find a way to stay organized using bookmarking tools such as diigo or delicious.

4.     Take a class online. You can learn a lot about how your students’ feel when you become the student.

Social Networking Tools

5.     Join twitter and connect with other professionals and individuals with similar interests. You also want to follow people who may be experts in online teaching.

6.     Use TweetDeck ot TweetChat to participate in twitter chats that take place that are related to your field and profession.

7.     Find ways to incorporate social networking tools in your courses by learning about ways other instructors are using them. Click here to begin your research. 

Course Content

8.     Find videos that can help demonstrate or Explain course content. Try You Tube, Teacher Tube, You Tube forEducators, and other video-sharing sites.

9.      Use Jing as a tool to help students navigate your course and show students things by letting them see your computer while you talk.

10.  Find Podcasts that are relevant to your course and share with students.

11.  Check websites such as Merlot, the National Science DigitalLibrary, and Wisc-Online for Learning Objects that already exist. Another instructor may have already spent time developing a great learning object for content that you may be teaching. Work smarter, not harder.

12.  When you can’t find something that is already available, create your own audio or video content. Search in Google or YouTube for a variety of tutorials, instructional information, and reviews.

13.  If typical Powerpoint is not working for you, try Prezi. This tool allows for much more flexibility when presenting information.

Communication

14.  Decide on the ways you will communicate with students and make that information in a variety of places. The most important thing in an online class is communication because you will not be seeing your students.

15.  Use Skype for conferencing with individual students. It allows for video, audio, and textual communication. You can also send links or files while talking.

16.  Consider Google Apps for collaborative work. Google Docs allows students to collaborate on documents and they can chat while working. Google Huddle also allows for conferencing.

17.  Using conferencing tools such as Illuminate Live or Wimba to “meet” with all your students at once.

18.  Use asynchronous tools such as wikis, blogs, and discussion boards to get students collaborating and working together without the expectation that they all get together at the same time.

19.  If you will use email, let students know how often you will check it and how soon they can expect a reply.

20.  Set up online office hours and use a synchronous communication tool that students can use. Students will then know when they can expect to get in touch with you. You can use AOL Instant Messenger, Skype, Gmail Chat, etc.

Remember…

21.  Without the structure of a face-to-face meeting, students need even more structure and organization. So, make sure you are clear, concise, and organized.

22.   Make sure you are using pedagogy and teaching and learning theories when designing your course. Make sure hat your use of technology tools is intentional and used in a way that will enhance learning.

23.  HAVE FUN!!!

First Week Introductions

On Online Courses, I often have my students introduce themselves the first week in the discussion board. It's not very interactive, but it gets the job done. Well, I was in a workshop recently an another instructor shared a way that she does he introductions on an online class and I plan to use this next semester. She asks them to introduce themselves using:

1. Animoto
2. Powerpoint
3. Video
4. Any other visual way.

She then has them upload it to the discussion board or post a link to the discussion board. It really breaks the ice and gets students to be creative. It also helps to "break the ice" and get rid of some of the transactional distance that takes place in many online classes. What do you think of the video I created using Animoto? It was really simple and it's a great way to make online classes a little more personal. Find the link here.

Preventing Plagiarism and Cheating

Plagiarism and cheating have become more of an issue as more things are available on online. Check out a quick instructional video. I created to help address these issues. I tried something new by using a combination of Jing and Prezi to create this video. Check out my video Titled, Preventing Plagiarism and Cheating.

Image from: registrarism.wordpress.com

Google Docs... For all of your Survey/Quiz Needs

As an educator, I am always looking for ways to gather information from my students. Sometimes I want to assess what my students know and sometimes I may just want feedback from my students. If your school or university uses a Course Management System (CMS), many of them have several tools for surveys or exams. However, if you don't need the bells and whistles of your course management system or you don't have one, Google Docs provides a great option for assessments. This could even be a survey you use to get feedback from your clients or a form you use to get information.

In order to create a survey you go to Google Docs and choose to create a new form. You then have several types of questions you ask. The information that your respondents complete is given to you in a nice spreadsheet form. To look at the survey I created for student feedback click here.

Check out the video below for instructions on creating a survey or assessment tool in Google Docs.

Are there other ways that you use Google Docs or other Google Apps in your teaching?

Try Prezi to Liven Up Your Presentations

Have you ever created a PowerPoint and thought.... "This linear format just doesn't work well with my topic?" or "I wish there a way to make this more interesting. Well... Now there is. You must try Prezi. This is an online tool that gives you a canvas to build presentations. It can present information in a non-linear way and gives you an area that allows for flexibility, images, and a variety of other ways to communicate information.

I created a presentation on Counseling and Web 2.0 that you can find here. The learning curve on this tool is a little higher for this tool, but the "pay off" is great. This tools opens up possibilities for ways that we can teach the 21st century learner.  It also has a collaborative tool, as well. For more information about Prezi watch the video below.

I would love to see examples of Prezi that you have created or that you use in your courses.

Our President Obama and LinkedIn Team Up to Discuss American Jobs

Social Networking tools have dramatically made a space in the lives of millions of America. Not only are they influencing our students, our personal lives, and our teaching, but they are also influencing our professional lives. LinkedIn is a social networking site that has been connecting individuals people professionally since 2002. LinkedIn.com states that they have 120 million members and this membership is growing rapidly at the pace of two new members per second. I have been a member of LinkedIn for a few years, but not until recently have I began to use it consistently as a way to increase my professional network. Through LinkedIn, I have been able to connect with past colleagues, meet professionals with similar research interests, and connect with professionals that have contributed to my professional development. In addition to connecting individuals professionally, LinkedIn has also become an influential voice in the debate and discussion about America's economical challenges. Watch below to view the town hall meeting with our President Barak Obama, hosted by LinkedIn, Putting America Back to Work.

Thank you LinkedIn for focusing on issues that are important to the American people. To learn more about LinkedIn or to join, please click here.

YouTube in the Classroom

One of the great things about the Internet is that there is so much ready-made content available that can be used when educating students. Above is a video that I will be using in one of my online courses next week. In my Counseling Theories course, we will be discussing Gestalt Therapy. This video is a demonstration of Fritz Perls, founder of Gestalt Therapy, counseling a client. Students will watch this video and respond to the following prompt:

Fritz Perls conducted Gestalt therapy in a controversial way by using personal confrontation and self-disclosure. Watch the Video of Perls working with client “Gloria.” Do you see examples of confrontation? What is your reaction to such methods? What do you think about this session?

This video will be especially useful because our Counseling Theories course is taught online. This video and others like it can help students gain understanding of the application of the theories we are studying and begin to get an understanding of how theories influence practice. It also helps beginning counselors start to gain an understanding of how a counseling session might look. I remember my first year as a counselor trainee wondering, "Am I doing this right? What are other counselors doing during session." Videos can help new counselors begin to answer some of these questions and give them a reference point as they begin to find their own counseling style and theoretical orientation. 

I found this video easily by going to YouTube and Searching "Gestalt Therapy Counseling Session." I looked at several videos before I chose the one that best suit the need I was looking for.

YouTube also recently introduced YouTube for Educators. This site is very similar to their original site. However, it focuses on the needs of teachers. It has videos organized by subject and has content that has been approved and recommend by teachers. Check out this new site and let me know what you think. How are you using videos in your courses? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Try Skype When Teaching Online

Have you ever taught an online class and thought, "I just need to talk to my students face to face for a little bit?" I have and Skype might just help in those instances.

I chose to experiment with Skype as a way to incorporate synchronous communication in an online course.  I have used Skype to chat with a friend, but I've recently just began to think about ways I might be able to use this in a class. I think that Skype would be a good tool to use in teaching because many students currently use Skype and may be familiar with it. I also like Skype because it allows for video chat, audio chat, and text chat. This will allow students to participate in a variety of ways. I also like chat because it has an app for the iPhone. 

I love Apple's iPad and iPhone and you will "hear" me talk about them a lot, but I am sure that other phones also have the app as well. If I (or a student) can not get to a computer, I can also participate in a Skype conversation from my phone. If you have a two-camera on your phone, you can use the video chat as you would use it on the computer. I also experimented with sending text messages, files, and links in a discussion. When using this as an instructor, I can share files or links about the topic we are discussing. A student will also have the ability to share something that they think may fit with the topic.

Most people sign up for online courses to allow for the time/place flexibility that asynchronous discussions provide. However, I believe that the immediate feedback and other benefits are lost in synchronous chat. Skype allows for students to participate in a synchronous discussion while allowing flexibility in place, some flexibility in time (you can Skype from your phone while on a lunch break), and flexibility in the method of the discussion (video, audio, text, or some combination). I see myself using Skype in an online class when I want to conference with my students or check-in with them. For instance, I will be teaching an advanced theories course next semester. The students have already learned about counseling theories and have taken most of their counseling coursework. In this class, they are accessing their own beliefs on counseling and how individuals change and choosing a their own personal approach to counseling. I plan to use Skype to conference with each student at least one time individually. This will give us an opportunity to discuss their theoretical orientation in an individualized way that will benefit from the immediate feedback and one-on-one discussion. 

Blogging in Counselor Education?

The counseling field has been hesitant to the use of technology for many acceptable reasons. However, I just found a website that may change the minds of many of those who are still hesitant. 

School Counselor Blog

This website contains content that is organized like a journal with the most recent posts on top and meets the criteria for a blog (Downes, 2009). This blog also contains some popular features in blogs such as categories, tags, and links to other resources. This blog was actually started by Danielle Schultz, while she was in graduate school training to become a school counselor. On her blog, she states that she started blogging after constantly searching for ideas and activities to use with her students as an intern.

I can see this blog as being beneficial to use in my teaching in several ways. First, this blog is an excellent resource for students who are getting ready to begin their Practicum or Internship Field Experience. They can find ideas by grade level and topic. Not only does the blog have a ton of resources, but it also posts about current issues in the field. I think having students comment on posts and participate in discussion can help students as they are developing professional identity. The author of the blog, Danielle, also allows for guests posts so, I could also create an assignment where students were required to submit a post to the author of the blog as an assignment. This will help students develop professional identity and give them confidence by helping them to go through the process of developing a post. Not to mention, the excitement and pride of a student if/when their post is accepted and submission. In the field of counseling where consultation is so important, blogs can be a great addition to course content. 

What other sites or blogs do you find beneficial in your teaching?

Tweet! Tweet! In the Classroom

I have been tweeting for at least six months and I have been very guarded about using twitter in the classroom. I’m not saying that I didn’t think it should be used in the classroom. I am just saying that I wasn’t sure how I would use it. I wasn’t concerned about privacy, necessarily. I was more concerned about  a blurring of boundaries. For this assignment, I decided to create a new twitter name that could be used for academic and professional purposes. I immediately decided to follow professional organizations in counseling, mental health, higher education, and diversity. I also followed some professors who use twitter to see how they were using twitter. I sent a tweet about some technology tools and about a conference in my field. I am still wrapping my mind around how I might use this, but I am starting to get excited about it.

I see twitter helping me in the classroom in several ways:

1. Students can get a sense of who I am as a professional so; they get a multi-dimensional view of the profession. This can help students get a broader idea of the career opportunities and the profession, in general.
2. I can re-tweet posts that are related to the field or that may spark interest in students.
3.  I can send announcements, links to videos, blogs, articles, etc. without clouding their email and they can decide what they want to do with that information.
4. I can encourage students to tweet about things they encounter throughout the week that are related to this course. This can help students begin to apply the knowledge they are learning. 
5. Twitter can be used to foster communication after class.
6. Using twitter in class can be a platform to talk about the professional and personal boundaries, how they may blur when using social networking tools, and ways to manage that.

I am sure there are several ways to use twitter and I will be experimenting with this throughout this semester. I am also thinking about ways I can use it in class. I’m not sure how I feel about students tweeting in class. I am on twitter and I can guarantee you that if I am tweeting in class, I may tweet for class, but I will also be tweeting my friends. So, I am still thinking this through.  

Follow me here! 

Welcome!

Welcome! I am excited that you have decided to stop by. This blog will help me to catalog, track, document, and reflect on a course I am currently taking on using technology tools in teaching. The creation of this blog is part of a scrapbooking assignment and I am excited to see how I can use this blog to learn, reflect, teach, and hopefully share.